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CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 



A.CTIOISr 



CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND 
MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE 

tOXCKlJ.VING 

TIIK (lUESTIOXS AXNor.VCEII FdR TlIK COXSlDKliATlDX OF 

TIIH INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONCIiESS. TO l!E 

flELD 1\ WASIIIXOTON OCTOP.EIf •.', llliiil. 



CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 



ACTION OF THE CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND 
MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE CONCERNING THE QUESTIONS 
ANNOUNCED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE INTERNA- 
TIONAL AMERICAN CONGRESS, TO BE HELD IN WASHING- 
TON OCTOBER 2, 1889. 

To the Board of Directors, Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, and 
Merchants' Exchange : 

The subject-matter covered by a circular letter of the Secre- 
tary of State for the TJiiited States which asks for suggestions 
from boards of trade and chambers of commerce as to the 
propositions to be considered in a conference proposed to be 
held between the United States of America, of the Central and 
Soutli American States, and Hayti and San Domingo, which 
was, under act of July 9 last, referred to the delegates of the 
Chamber of Commerce to the National Board of Trade, has 
been duly considered, and the following report thereou is re- 
spectfully submitted: 

As to the first proposition set forth in the act of Congress 
authorizing the President of the United States to arrange for 
the conference, which reads as follows: "Measures that shall 
tend to preserve the peace and promote the prosperity of the 
several American states," it seems fit to say, that obviously 
the first means to secure the peace and promote the prosperity 
of the several American states is a plan for arbitrating dis- 
putes that may arise between them. This is dictated by the 
enlightened demands of modern civilization, as well as by the 
interests of commerce. To preserve peace between states 
nothing is likely to be more conservative in its influence, or 
to stimulate more actively a proper feeling of forbearance, or 
to provoke a more just concern for equity, than a sense of 
interdependence in commercial intercourse. 

Hence the second of the subjects presented, which is in the 
following words : " Measures towards the formation of an Amer- 
144a 1 



I ?S9 



ican customs union, under which the trade of the American 
nations with each other shall, so far as possible and profitable, 
be promoted," is conspicuous as one of the most important of 
the things to be attained by the conference. The fact that the 
products of the states invited to the conference differ widely 
from those of our own country makes the establishment of a 
customs union and reciprocal trade an easy matter, evidently 
called for by pi'oper considerations of public policy. Some- 
thing on the i)lan of reciprocal trade relations once had with 
the Dominion of Canada, or that of the Dutch Zolverein, may 
doubtless afford a basis for the establishment of a customs 
union by the American states. The full statistics afforded by 
a report from the Treasury Department in May, 1888, are sug- 
gestive of the interest of the United States in this matter, and 
constitute at least one of the means to the end desired. 

As to topic fhree, " the establishment of regular and fre- 
quent communication between the ports of the several Ameri- 
can states and the ports of each other," it is to be said that the 
desirableness of improved, more regular, and rapid means of 
commercial intercourse between the states called to tate part 
in the conference is universally admitted by those of our citi- 
zens who have expressed themselves on the subject, and there 
has been wide discussion of it in conventions, in the National 
Board of Trade, and in commercial organizations in different 
cities by persons who represented all the leading industries. 
There has not been the fullest agreement as to plans by which 
such improvement may be brought about, but the sentiment 
that the Government of this country should by judicious sub- 
sidy promote ocean navigation, especially that which relates to 
the commerce of the American states, largely predominates. 
Discussions in the convention which may refer to this important 
topic will doubtless be among the most interesting and sugges- 
tive that will take place. The advantages to accrue from ap- 
probative action upon it will not be limited to the United 
States. 

Topic /oMr, which is as follows : " The establishment of a uni- 
form system of customs regulations in each of the independent 
American states to govern the mode of importation and ex- 
portation of merchandise and port dues and charges, a uniform 
method of determining the classification and valuation of such 
merchandise in the ports of each country, and a uniform sys- 
tem of invoices, and the subject of the sanitation of ships and 



[/ I - ! ' ' I 



quarantine," is scarcely more tban a suggestion that there be 
fonnulated a working plan to give commerce between the 
states called to the conference easy, practical facilities for its 
benign work. The formulas for this are doubtless afibrded by 
the systems that experience lias suggested to those who have 
the administration of the customs service in hand. It is virtu- 
ally a corollary of the propositions that precede it. 

Topic five, "the adoption of a uniform system of weights and 
measures, and laws to protect the patent-rights, copyrights, 
and trade-marks of citizens of either country in the other, and 
for the extradition of criminals," is one of the most important 
in the list. Nothing in these days is more essential in the pros- 
ecution of bnsiuess than simplicity in forms and methods, and 
nothing conduces more directly to that than uniformity in laws 
and customs that regulate ti'affic, as well that between citizens 
of our own country as between those of different countries. 
The practical suggestion to make in this connection is that 
weights and measures be upon the cental system, with com- 
mon units of computation; that commodities should, as far 
as possible, be exchanged by weight ; that revenue laws, pat- 
ent laws, laws relating to debt, to insurance, to certification of 
papers, to exchange, to bills of lading, to copyright, to the for- 
mation and regulation of corporations, and to the extradi- 
tion of criminals should be simple and uniform. Propositions 
for legislation to this effect can probably go no further than 
suggestion or recommendation ; yet it may be that a joint com- 
mission to have in charge the promotion of requisite action by 
the states in the conference can be arranged for. 

Topic numbered six, " The adoption of a common silver coin, 
to be issued by each Government, the same to be legal tender 
in all commercial transactions between the citizens of all Amer- 
•ican states," brings to the front the pressing, very important 
question of an international money system, connected with 
which must needs be considered that of the relation of the two 
precious metals serving as money. A consideration of this is 
likely to be most opportune, if rightly directed, and as there 
can not well be now any risk of losing the affirmative position 
of the United States on this question, there would seem to be 
little reason to doubt that discussion of it by the leading pro- 
ducers of money metals and the taking of such action as might 
enable them to be mutually defensive would be of timely ben- 
efit. If discussion be confined strictly to the topic as stated 



4 

there will uecessarily come up the divergeuce in value of the 
coius that are either kuown as dollars iu different nations, or 
as are nearly their equivalents under other names. Possibly 
on this point " The United States" may find occasion to concede 
as much as it can ask, and although the relations of the states 
called to tbis conference are ou nearly all counts especially 
strong and evidently destined to become stronger, yet attention 
must be given to the great importance of bringing all nations 
into that practical relation on this subject that the best ex- 
perience of modern political and economic science may suggest. 

The treatment given to topic one in this paper necessarily 
covers or applies to topic seven, "An agreement upon and rec- 
ommendation for adoption to their respective Governments of 
a definite plan of arbitration of all questions, disputes, and dif- 
ferences that may now or hereafter exist between them, to the 
end that all dilhculties and disputes between such nations may 
be peaceably settled and wars prevented." Almost the first 
requisite for successful trade is a sense of security, hence the 
first demand in negotiations for more intimate and substantial 
intercourse between states is that there be guaranties for the 
preservation of peace. 

On the suggestion embodied iu topic eight, "And to consider 
such other subjects relating to the welfare of the several states 
represented as may be presented by any of said states which 
are hereby invited to participate in said conference," it may 
not be out of place to recommend for consideration methods 
by which a compact between the states which participate in 
the conference may be made that will result in a comprehensive 
survey of the ocean and gulf coasts of the states represented 
and also an effective light-house system established. Possibly 
a joint commission to consider these subjects may expedite 
practical results in regard to them. 

The proposed conference of American states can not but be 
regarded as a very important event. The phenomenal progress 
which marks the present era, especially iu our own country, 
calls for the opening and enlarging of all possible paths for 
commerce, and nothing is more likely to promote these desir- 
able objects than attempts to bring people having a community 
of interests, as have those of the Western Hemisphere, into 
such relations as will tend to develop the amazing resources 
that are at their hands and that may promote iiolitical har- 
mony. 



The members of your committee beg leave to recommeud, if 
they have in this report reflected the thoughts of the chamber, 
that a copy of it, modified as may be desirable, be duly sub- 
milted to the Secretary of State as a response to his circular 
of the 17th of June ultimo. 

They would beg leave further to suggest a consideration of 
the propriety of delegating one or more representatives of the 
chamber to attend the conference. 
Most respectfully, 

John A. Gang. 

S. Lester Taylok. 

Chakles B. Murray. 

Earl W. Stimson. 

Levi C. Goodale. 

J. D. Parker. 

S. F. OOTINGTON. 

, Adopted by board of directors. 
W. P. S. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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